Holywell Educate Together National School
Newsletter September 25th 2015
Phone:01 4444386
Website:www.holywelletns.ie
Email:principal@holywelletns.ie
Green Flag Ceremony
Congratulations to all the students and staff of the school who
celebrated the raising of the school’s second Green Flag from An
Taisce in respect of the reduction in the use of energy in our
school. Broadcaster Ian Dempsey helped raise the flag with the
help of Leo from 6th class, the school choir and the Green School
Committee. Many thanks to teachers Siobhán and Louise for their hard work in making the
application and preparing the children, to Áine and the PTA for securing ‘goodies’ for all the
students, for Steve West (Amy’s Dad in Rian’s class) for organising the sound system and
Edel Behan (Emma’s Mum in Niamh’s class) for making an amazing ‘Green Flag’ award
cake for the celebrations. The PTA also organised a disco for all the children in the hall
afterwards.
Parents Information Evening: Wednesday September 23rd
Many thanks to all the parents and guardians who attended last Wednesday’s Parents
Information Evening in the school. If you wish to speak to your child’s teacher or support
teacher, please make an appointment to speak to them after school and they are only too
happy to assist.
Parents News
PTA Coffee Morning
Many thanks to all the parents who attended the first coffee morning of the year in the
Parents Room. It was great to see so many of you share a coffee. The PTA AGM is taking
place on Wednesday September 30th at 7.30pm in Room 1 (Parents Room). Please do try
and attend this meeting. Áine Maguire is stepping down from her role in the committee and a
successor will be elected. Stuart Purcell (1st Class Teacher) is the Teacher representative on
the PTA this year.
Board of Management Term 2015-2019
The Board of Management is the governing body that oversees the running of the school.
Each term of the Board lasts four years with the new term of the Board of Management
starting in December 2015. There are eight members who sit on the Board, two teachers (one
of whom is the Principal), two Patron nominees, two Community nominees and two parent
nominees (one male and one female).
Adam Kowal (Julia’s Father in Stuart’s class) and Úna Carroll (Sadhbh and Leo’s Mum in
Mark R. & Eileen’s classes) are the out-going Parent nominees. We are looking for
parents/guardians who wish to be nominated for this role. A letter will be sent home next
week explain the role description and the process for election.
Booklists for the Year:
Please note that booklists were provided to the children at the end of last year. Parents are
asked not to buy books and copies on the lists. Instead the school would provide all
materials (books, copies, insurance, art materials and stationary) upon payment.
If you have not paid for your child’s books, then they do not have books to use. Please do so
immediately as Teachers cannot photocopy pages from books as this is in breach of
copyright.
Junior Infants: €48 (€50 already paid upon enrolment)
Senior Infants: €100
First Class: €110
Second Class: €120
Third Class: €120
Fourth Class: €120
Fifth Class: €120
Sixth Class: €120
Parents Parking in the School
Reminder: parents cars are not permitted onto the school grounds during school hours as
there is no space for them and it poses a serious threat to the health and safety of our pupils.
Student Mobile Phones;
Children from 2nd class -6th class are permitted to bring mobile phones to school, but they
must switch them off and hand them to their teacher at the beginning of the school day. They
are returned to the children at the end of the school day. The school does not accept
responsibility for the mobile before and after school.
Fingal Community College
6th Class children in Eileen’s class received application forms for Fingal Community College.
Anyone who is interested in enrolling in the school must submit their forms as soon as
possible.
Wet Mornings:
We invite children into the hall from 8.20am if it is raining. Please enter the hall via the infant
yard (which has astro turf). Teachers will be present to supervise until the class teachers come
to collect the children. Parents are asked not to wait in the hall as the space is limited.
Faith Formation for 2nd Class Students:
Reminder 2nd Class students attending Faith Formation classes have their first ‘Do This In
Memory’ Mass in St. Colmcille’s Church on Saturday September 26th at 6.30pm.
Up The Dubs!
Best of luck to Niamh Mc Evoy, Senior Infants teacher, a member of the Senior Dublin
Ladies GAA team who is playing in the All Ireland Championship Final on Sunday
September 27th against Cork.
School Photographer Tom Dandy
Junior Infant Photographs will be taken on Tuesday 13th October in the school. No Sibling
photographs will be taken. Permission slip will go home in the next two weeks when they
arrive at school.
Lost Property
A text was sent out inviting parents to look at the substantial amount of unclaimed children’s
clothing left in the school. As much of the clothes were unclaimed, we will be sending it to
the charity shops next week.
New Lining-up Arrangements:
Many thanks to all our parents who are co-operating with the new lining up arrangements.
The children are now going in a straight line to the back of the courts. (This is the assembly
point for fire drills). Each class lines up on front of the classroom number. The reason for this
is to ensure that all children stay with their teacher and are handed over to their
parents/minders without other parents and students walking in their way as they exit the
courts.
If you see a line of children entering the courts, we ask that you wait and allow the children
pass by.
Adults should wait at the front, inside of the courts and leave the path outside the courts, at
the windows free for traffic leaving the school.
We really need adults’ patience and co-operation for this to work.
Infectious Diseases
Please inform the school if your child has been diagnosed with an infectious disease (chicken
pox/scarlet fever/measles etc.), as we need to keep other students and staff safe.
Adult Choir with Paul
Paul Glennon (language support teacher) is starting an adult choir in the school on Tuesday
6th October 2015, 7pm-8:30pm at Holywell ETNS. It is open to all adults who enjoy singing
and would like to participate in a choir. If you, your friend or neighbour are interested, please
do pop into the school on Tuesday evening.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend,
Maria